Such a Pretty Smile

I received an e-Galley ARC of Such A Pretty Smile, authored by Kristi Demeester, from the publisher St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for review consideration. At the time of writing this I have no information on the cover art. What follows is my honest review, given freely. This novel was unapologetically feminist, which I found glorious. I went into this blind beyond the author’s name and the title grabbing my attention and ended up with a new favorite read. I feel, possible incorrectly, that there are many sly nods to the reader, starting with the title. Who has not been told they would do better with a smile? I found Lila’s smile outside Jazzland to be especially pretty. The Cur, the big nasty of the book, has a fitting title. Cur has more than one definition, which is still fitting for this story. One thing I loved was how easy it was to fall into the story each time I picked it up. Didn’t matter if I planned to read a few pages or chapters, I always read more than I intended. When I actually finished the book I was sitting at the edge of my bed, because I wasn’t planning to finish it right then. Only a few more paragraphs I thought, and then just a page. Then I was done with the bloody thing and my big toe was asleep from leaning all weird while reading. It’s a read to get you invested, I had moments where I was cussing at people from the pages, entreating them, nodding along with them. I was energized after, I felt like I could move mountains, create something beautiful; this is a gift of a novel. If you love a good thrilling dark fiction, that also touches on real world issues with that fiction, look no further. Such A Pretty Smile is haunting, bloody, wild, and freeing.